Public Service at Surabaya - Sunday Evening, November 04, 2007

Jude 1: 24-25
1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
1:25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

This is the appearance of Jesus as Great Shepherd who is mighty to keep us from stumbling in any sin. Moreover, He leads us until we are blameless, and perfect as His faultless Bride.

We have heard that there are three times of Jesus' appearance as the Shepherd as follows:

• As Good Shepherd,
  
• As Great Shepherd,
  
• As Chief Shepherd who lifts us up to be together with Him.
  

Now we will see the life who is shepherded, namely Esther who could become queen.

Esther 1:11-12
1:11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold.
1:12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him.

Queen Vashti stumbled. Jesus, Great Shepherd, keeps us so we do not stumble, even He leads us to present us faultless as His Bride.
Queen Vashti stumbled because she was not obedient when the king asked her to show herself in her beauty, wearing her royal crown.

Then a chance was opened for Esther to become queen.

Esther 2:5-7
2:5 In Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite.
2:6 Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
2:7 And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

Queen Vashti was prestigious person but then her royal position was taken from her. On the contrary, Esther was one of the captives who had been captured, and was also an orphan, so she did not have worldly potential. Nevertheless, she had something God has granted her, namely she was lovely and beautiful so she could be chosen to replace Vasthi.

Jesus as Heavenly Bridegroom is looking for Christians who are as a lovely and beautiful woman in the spirituality to become His Bride. He does not see the worldly potential but lovely and beautiful spirituality of a woman.

The meaning of lovely and beautiful woman spiritually is as follows:

1. the Church of God who lives in holiness.
   Youth must keep the holiness in the time of engagement, and all of us must too.
   
   2 Corinthians 11:2-3
   11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
   11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
   
   Besides, we have to live in faithfulness to the true teaching Word and minister God faithfully.
   
   Thus, the spiritual virgin lives in holiness and faithfulness. The Lord, King of kings, seeks such a holy and faithful virgin in holding fast the true teaching Word and committing the service and ministry, like King Ahasuerus looked for a queen instead of Vasthi. Do not become as Eve, who was deceived by serpent with his craftiness until she turned to another teaching. Therefore, we have to keep the true teaching Word faithfully.
   
   
2. The servants of God or sons of God who care for the things of the Lord or prioritize spiritual matters more than the physical ones.
   
   1 Corinthians 7: 32-34
   7:32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord--how he may please the Lord.
   7:33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world--how he may please his wife.
   7:34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world--how she may please her husband.
   
   Verse 32 is about how the Lord is pleased with a life who always cares for Him or prioritizes spiritual matters more than the physical ones. As a result, s/he can live and always pleases the lord. Caring for the world, one will please the world, and seek something in it.
   
   Do not resist the Lord through not pleasing Him because it means not being a virgin.
   
   In shorts, the virgin means one who lives holily and faithfully, and cares for the Lord or prioritizes spiritual matters more than the physical ones so s/he always pleases Him.
   
   
3. Servants of God or sons of God who are not defiled with women Jezebel and Babel.
   Revelation 14:4-5
   14:4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
   14:5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
   
   There are two women in holy bible, namely Jezebel and Babel, who may defile our life. Therefore, we have to be careful so we are not defiled by them.
   
   1. Jezebel
      Revelation 2:20
      2:20 "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
      
      The meaning of Jezebel is as follows:
      
      1. False teachings about ministry which does not please God through permitting women to teach and to have authority over men.
         
         1 Timothy 2:11-14
         2:11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.
         2:12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.
         2:13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
         2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
         
         Therefore, we have to be careful with the teaching of Jezebel, that is to say false teaching permitting woman to teach and have authority over men.
         
         A wife is not permitted to command the husband, and a woman is not permitted to teach men in the service to the Lord. It is said clearly. A woman is still not permitted to teach and have authority over men although in the service held in household.
         
         Verse 14 is related to the fall of Eve because God commanded her that of every tree of the garden she may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil she shall not eat. Meaning a woman can minister God in all fields but she cannot command or teach men.
         
         1 Corinthians 14:34-35
         14:34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.
         14:35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
         
         It is firmed again that women are not permitted to speak in the churches because of these reasons:
         
         • to make the churches holy,
           
         • a woman who keeps silent is placing the man as the head and it means placing Jesus as the Head.
           
         • a woman who keeps silent in the service to the Lord is placing the man as the head and Jesus becomes the Head/High Priest in the service.
           
         
         Let us now be alert with the teaching of Jezebel because Jesus is looking for the beautiful virgin as follows:
         
         • being holy and faithful to the true teaching Word, and the true ministry.
           
         • paying attention to God or prioritizing spiritual matters more than the physical ones so God is pleased.
           
         • at a distance with the teaching of Jezebel, not being defiled by the woman Jezebel.
           
           
      2. the teaching about the depths of Satan
         Revelation 2:24
         2:24 "Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.
         
         
   2. Babel
      The woman Babel teaches false teaching that shows up physical matters such as wealth, prosperity, and performance that are like wine, but it is uncleanness.
      
      Do not want to know or to compare false teachings because God is looking for woman who is pure as a virgin.
      

Esther has had the status as beautiful virgin spiritually, but she had to be in the women's quarters. She was not permitted to go anywhere.

Esther 2:2-3
2:2 Then the king's servants who attended him said: "Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king;
2:3 "and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the citadel, into the women's quarters, under the custody of Hegai the king's eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them.

The virgins were gathered so they were not scattered or went anywhere.
Esther had to enter into the women's quarters, under the custody of Hegai.

The meaning of the women's quarters is as follows:

• church organization (in physical meaning)
  
• Sheepfold or Holy Place or perseverance in committing three main services (in spiritual meaning)
  

We are given beauty preparations in the three main services as follows:

• Holy Spirit in General Service, referring to the Golden Candlestick
  
• The Son of God in Bible Study Service and Holy Communion, referring to the Table of Showbread
  
• Father God with His love in Prayer Service, pointing to the Golden Altar of Incense.
  

A virgin must enter into the three main services, and not go anywhere. We remember the daughter of Jacob, whose name is Dinah. He had been forbidden to go outside the tent but she went out to see outside. Afterward, she was caught and raped by Shechem the son of Hamor. Likewise, we, who have been holy virgin, should not go anywhere, but enter into the women's quarters, referring to perseverance in committing three main services to the Lord in the sheepfold.

Hegai, the custodian, refers to a pastor God trusts as His hand, through the Word, Holy Spirit, and His love, that forms the virgins to become the queen or God's bride. Let us now pray for our pastor solemnly, so he can become the hand of God through the revelation of the Word in the anointing of Holy Spirit and God's love forming the congregation/virgins to become queen/God's bride.

We have to have the status as beautiful virgin before God, although we do not have any potential before the world. We enter into the women's quarters or sheepfold, where there is Hegai, referring to a pastor having the revelation of God's Word, the anointing of Holy Spirit, and God's love, solemnly.

The three things above are the three main services to the Lord, referring to the hand of God forming us to become His Bride. A pastor without the revelation of God's Word is without the hand of God, so the congregation cannot be formed.

There were many virgins who were gathered, but only one was chosen, namely Esther. It means that the selection was very tight. It is difficult to be a queen although we have been shepherded, holy, and given beauty preparations because only one is chosen.

Why was only Esther chosen?
Because she had an added value, that is to say her obedience.

Esther 2:10
2:10 Esther had not revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it.

She was obedient to Mordecai, referring to physical parents or the Court of Tabernacle.

Esther 2:15
2:15 Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her.

Besides, she was obedient to Hegai, referring to spiritual parents or the Holy Place of Tabernacle. Afterward, the obedience is to the Word of God or Jesus. We need this added value nowadays, that is to say the obedience as Esther had.

Esther 1:11-12
1:11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold.
1:12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him.

Vashti was beautiful to behold, but she was left because of her disobedience.

Likewise, King Saul was also good-looking but he was disobedient. Consequently, he was rejected from being king.

1 Samuel 15:22-23
15:22 Then Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king."

King Saul was good-looking with great potential, but he was rejected for being king because of his disobedience, meaning one cannot become the bride of God if there is disobedience.

The steps we must follow can be concluded as follows:

• Keeping the status as virgin. It is only because of God's grace if we can live in holiness and faithfulness
  
• Prioritizing spiritual matters more than the physical ones. It is also the grace of God.
  
• Rejecting false teachings. It is also His grace because there are many people suppose all teachings are same.
  
• Being shepherded, and given beauty preparations by the hand of God through a pastor in the revelation of God's Word.
  
• Being obedient, as the added value, that is seen by God.
  

Where do we get the obedient heart, seeing that the hearts of men tend to be wicked since the days of Noah?

We can get the obedient heart through these things:

1. Water Baptism
   1 Peter 3:20-21
   3:20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
   3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
   
   Eight people were four couples. Thus, the obedience leads to the bride. Water baptism changes the heart of man, which tends to be wicked, to become good conscience, namely obedient heart. Man has not had good conscience yet until s/he is baptized of water. The men in the days of Noah did not enter into the ark because they were disobedient, including children, so they were perished.
   
   The requirement to get the obedient heart must be clear, that is to say entering into the true water baptism after being dead to sin or repenting.
   
   Romans 6:2-4
   6:2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
   6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
   6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
   
   Besides, the implementation must be clear also, as it is said in verse 4, that is to say we are buried with Jesus. If a man is not buried, it means that he has not been baptized yet. The dead must be buried, and then be risen in new life, that is to say obedient life. There is no way except through the water baptism.
   
   
2. Shepherding
   Before being shepherded and became a shepherd, Moses had had wicked heart as follows:
   
   • A man with partiality, so he became,
     
   • A killer; he killed an Egyptian when he saw the Egyptian fought against an Israelite.
     
   
   Nevertheless, his heart was changed to become obedient heart after he was in shepherding, so he could be employed by God.
   

In shorts, we can get the obedient heart from these things:

• Water baptism,
  
• Shepherding system. We are formed to have the characteristics of Jesus, Great Shepherd who is humble and obedient. Being arrogant, we cannot be obedient as Esther has the obedience that is her added value.
  

The obedient is in the hand of God.
The time of the Word is being preached is the time of God's hand is being stretched to us.
If we can hear the Word and obey it, we will be able to stretch our hand to God, and we live in the hand of Great Shepherd. Such is the condition of the obedient people.

The result of living in the hand of Great Shepherd if we are obedient is as follows:

1. The Lord commands blessing to come upon us, none may obstruct.
   Deuteronomy 28:1, 2, 8
   28:1 "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.
   28:2 "And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:
   28:8 "The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
   
   Esther was the captive but she was lifted up by God and placed in the women's quarters. This is our life in the hand of Great Shepherd. For you youth, there will be a lifting up if you live in the hand of God although you live in the middle of difficulties because your parents are not rich.
   
   The Lord commands blessing to come upon us, none may obstruct, as long as we live in the hand of Great Shepherd through our obedience.
   
   Esther was an orphan but she was lifted up as a queen because God commanded blessings none might obstruct. I hope we can understand.
   
   The important thing is not the physical potential although you may have it like high education certificate or much money or capital but the important thing is being a virgin, referring to being shepherded and obedient, and living in the hand of God, so He commands blessings to come upon us, namely blessings for the preservation of our daily life and for lifting us up. Esther had been despised for many years but she did not get the contempt anymore soon after the hand of God lifted her up.
   
   
2. We will get the power of victory in Jesus' name to defeat the trinity of Satan.
   Philippians 2:8-10
   2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
   2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
   2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
   
   Jesus was humble and obedient, so He gets the power in His name to defeat the trinity of Satan. Likewise, we will get the power of victory in Jesus' name to defeat the trinity of Satan, namely those in heaven or Satan, and those on earth or false prophet, and those under the earth or antichrist, if we live in the hand of Great Shepherd. The trinity of Satan is the source of failure, temptation, and sorrow. If they are defeated, it means God has finished all matters. I am glad to preach this and it is especially for me first.
   

It is not forbidden to have all potentials in the world, do not throw away your education certificate but do not be proud of it! Besides, do not be disappointed for you who do not have any potential! Let us now follow the example Esther has given us as follows:

1. Keeping the status as virgin because it is the grace of God, entering into the shepherding, being baptized of water so we become obedient. As the result, God commands blessings to come upon us, that is to say the miraculous preservation that is beyond the logic of human, as it has happened to Esther, who was a captive but she could be lifted up as a queen.
   
2. We have the power of victory over the trinity of Satan and we have the crown as the sign of our victory as Esther has received a crown.
   

Esther 2:17
2:17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

The crown refers to the crown of bride to enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb and to welcome the King who will come a second time.

Youth should be solemn right now as follows:

• Keeping the status of virgin spiritually
  
• Being shepherded in the women's quarters, not going all around but having perseverance.
  
• Having added value or positive value, namely obedience, so we live in the hand of Great Shepherd and He gives us victory.
  

Being disappointed and hopeless, one becomes bald and does not have the crown of bride in welcoming Jesus' second coming.

It is said in Jude 1:24, He keeps us from stumbling as well as leads us until we become blameless or perfect as His Bride.

Revelation 7:17
7:17 "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

The hand of Great Shepherd is leading us to beautiful joyful future life.

The living fountains of waters means we have hope to become beautiful. It is a beauty or joy at the time we find fountains of waters in the desert, or we are thirsty then we find waters. Such life is being lead by the hand of Great Shepherd.

Besides, God will wipe away every tear from our eyes until someday there is no more tear but we are in the throne of New Jerusalem like Esther who became queen, referring to bride. We are in the throne of New Jerusalem together with Him forever.

Let us now be solemn in following the example of Esther as a captive and an orphan none may see because there is no potential but being lifted up, and receiving the blessing of victory or crown, referring to being led by the hand of God to enter into New Jerusalem, the most beautiful thing, if we keep the status of virgin, being shepherded and obedient, and living in the hand of God.

Surrender to God whatever condition we have.

God blesses you.
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